MMA World Rankings

Lawler came out very cautious in the first round. In the 2nd round though, he worked the clinch game to perfection, landing vicious punches to the body and head. He ended things with several knees from the clinch that landed directly on Smith’s solar plexus. Lawler rises to 5. Smith drops to 40.

170 lbs. Title – Jake Shields [7] vs. Nick Thompson [12]

This is the best I’ve seen Jake Shields fight. He walked right across the cage, took down Thompson and had him mounted easily. Thompson scrambled but got locked in a modified guillotine choke just over 1 minute into the fight. The Welterweight top 5 is impossible to crack right now unless one of them loses. Make that the top 6 with Shields. Shields rises to 6. Thompson drops to 13.

Heavyweight Title – Antonio Silva [20] vs. Justin Eilers

Silva simply outclassed Eilers. He was too big, strong and suprisingly quick for him. He continues to impress and rise up the ladder. His boxing looked very crisp and his power is shocking. Silva rises to 16.

155 lbs. – Nick Diaz [21] vs. Thomas Denny

This was a great fight. Denny showed an incredible heart. His perseverance was awe-inspiring. He was simply outclassed by Diaz. Nick used his usual slow, methodical approach to break down his opponent. Diaz stays at 21.

205 lbs. – Rafael Cavalcante [37] vs. Travis Galbraith

Rafael is a hot prospect. He trains with Rodrigo Noguira and Anderson Silva. His boxing and muay thai looked sharp. Galbraith just couldn’t match skills with him. It was a mismatch. Cavalcante rises to 32.

WOW!! Incredible performance by Eddie Alvarez. He is the most exciting fighter in the sport today. He is the Arturi Gatti of MMA. Kawajiri dropped him with a vicious left hook that would have finished most fighters but Eddie held on to survive. He regained his senses, escaped mount…stood up and marched forward eating punches from Kawajiri in order to land some of his own. He kept coming forward with straight lefts and rights until Kawajiri fell. Eddie then finished him with hammer strikes. I can’t say enough about this performance! It is the stuff legends are made of. Alvarez rises to 2. Kawajiri drops to 12.

155 lbs. – Shinya Aoki [2] vs. Caol Uno [11]

Shinya Aoki should be nicknamed the python. He grabs a hold of his opponent and doesn’t let go until they are submitted or until the bell rings. He showed why he is arguably the best submission fighter in MMA. He trapped Uno in a brilliant triangle choke that should have finished it. Uno flashed his greatness simply by escaping the sure submission. It was moot however as Aoki transitioned from submission to submission en route to a unanimous decision victory. Uno drops to 13.

155 lbs. – Shinya Aoki [2] vs. Joachim Hansen [21]

Eddie Alvarez was not medically cleared to participate in the final so Hansen stepped in his place. Hansen beat Kultar Gill earlier in the night to become the official alternate. Aoki looked to grab and control Hansen in the beginning but Hansen proved too strong to keep tamed. He postured up and reigned down hard punches to Aoki’s face. Just over 4 minutes into the fight, Hansen landed a final left hand to the downed Aoki which caused the referee to step in and stop the fight. Hansen rises to 3. Aoki drops to 4.

Fedor Emelianenko is unbeatable. A lot of people questioned the legitamacy of his number 1 ranking but now it seems ridiculous to think otherwise. He’s the best striker in the division…the best grappler…the quickest…most explosive…toughest…etc., etc. There’s a reason people call him cyborg. It’s because he has no weaknesses. Tim Sylvia has no shame in losing this match. He lost to a 230 lbs. man with the quickness of a 155 lbs. fighter. Fedor stays at 1. Sylvia drops to 7.

HVY – Josh Barnett [4] vs. Pedro Rizzo [15]

Josh Barnett is a really big man with great agility. He showed nice head movement and striking skills throughout. He is one of the smartest fighters in the game and he found a home for his left hook in the 2nd round. He set it up with a right hand that took Rizzo’s eyes of of the KO punch. A match with Arlovski or Fedor looms. Rizzo simply got beat by the better man. He is still a handful for anyone and will be back for sure. Barnett stays at 4. Rizzo stays at 15.

HVY – Andre Arlovski [6] vs. Ben Rothwell [23]

Andrei Arlovski is a physical specimen. Rothwell could not handle his hand speed and striking combos. The destruction was highlighted when Andrei pinned Ben in the corner and threw a flying knee that traveled 6′5 inches to land on Ben’s face. It was more of the same in round 3 as Andrei finally felled the gutsy and game Rothwell. Arlovski rises to 5. Rothwell stays at 23.

205 lbs. – Renato Sobral [15] vs. Mike Whitehead [26]

Renato Sobral was the aggressor in this very competitve match. Whitehead got a few takedowns but wasn’t able to advance his position or land any meaningful strikes. Sobral got the better of the standup and showed better endurance as he dominated in round 3. “Babalu” was active throughout. He tried several submissions and used both shins and fists for strikes. It was a very balanced and solid performance. Sobral rises to 13. Whitehead drops to 28 (With the entrance of Vera and Silva)

185 lbs. – Matt Lindland [5] vs. Fabio Negao

Matt Lindland had a chance to finish Negao in the opening minutes with a guillotine but couldn’t get the tapout. Negao showed great toughness in withstanding the choke. It appeared that the submission attempt really drained Lindland’s energy because he looked sluggish and lacked steam on his punches. Whatever the reason for the lack of energy, Lindland grinded out the decision victory. It was not the performance of a top 10 fighter however. Matt is getting up there in age and he may be losing some of his edge. Lindland drops to 17. Negao debuts at 70.

HVY – Paul Buentello [25] vs. Gary Goodridge [NR]

Aleksander Emelianenko was supposed to be Buentello’s opponent but for some reason, the California State Athletic Commission determined him to be ineligible to compete. This fight resembled a sparring match. Buentello won the exchanges but didn’t go for the finish. Although Goodridge was a game opponent, he was slightly overmatched in the striking game. Buentello stays at 25.

185 lbs. – Vitor Belfort [NR] vs. Terry Martin [42]

Vitor came out cautious in the 1st round and used his reach to keep the distance and land his punches. In the middle of the 2nd round, he exploded and landed a flush knee to Margin’s face that was the beginning of the end. Moments later, he landed a right uppercut followed by a straight left that knocked the unconsious Martin throught the ropes. Physically, Belfort is a threat to anyone (except maybe Anderson Silva) at 185 lbs. Belfort debuts at 34. Martin stays at 43.

If it wasn’t for Fedor, Anderson Silva would be the best fighter on the planet. As it is, he is a close 2nd. He does have the most creative fight game in the world. He caught an Irvin kick and then lifted him off the canvas with a punch. He quickly finished him with several pinpoint strikes to the face. The reason I rank Silva at 12 is because he hasn’t competed in the division long enough to be higher yet his win was so impressive, he debuts just outside the top 10. Silvadebuts at 12. Irvin drops to 22.

155 lbs. – Frank Edgar [14] vs. Hermes Franca [23]

Speaking of great performances, Frankie Edgar put one on against the always dangersous Hermes Franca. Franca caught Edgar in a tight armbar in the 1st round that would have finished most fighters but Frank showed his grit and worked hard to yank it out. At the end of the fight, Franca landed a flush knee that hurt Edgar but again he survived. In between those two instances, it was all Frankie Edgar. He showed incredible tenacity and grappling control. His transitions were top notch and his ground and pound battered Hermes’ face. Edgar stays at 14. Franca stays at 23.

205 lbs. – Brandon Vera [NR] vs. Reese Andy [36]

This was a very lackluster fight. Vera looked to counterpunch throughout and he was left waiting by Reese to initiate. Vera admitted after the fight that the weight cut drained him of energy. There was nothing noteworthy about this match. Vera must learn the science of weight-cutting in order to be successful at 205. Vera debuts at 25. Andy drops to 38.

170 lbs. – Kevin Burns [23] vs. Anthony Johnson [36]

Anthony Johnson controlled this fight but was continually poked in the eye by Burns. He landed flush hands and shins and got powerful takedowns throughout. Just as it looked like he would cruise to a unanimous decision victory, Burns inadvertantly poked him in the eye again and Johnson covered up. The ref stopped the fight and ruled it a TKO for Burns. The replay clearly shows the finger going deep into Johnson’s eye. A win is a win but the better fighter is Johnson and he looks like he has the tools to make a run at the belt in the near future. Burns stays at 23. Johnson rises to 24.

HVY – Jake O’Brien [22] vs. Cain Velasquez [42]

Velasquez rises to 21. O’Brien drops to 28.

170 lbs. – Brad Blackburn [27] vs. James Giboo

170 lbs. – Rory Markham vs. Brodie Farber

Markham’s fights are guaranteed excitement. Farber landed early and often as Markham tried to find his range. Farber had him retreating when suddenly Markham planted his feet and landed a BRUTAL kick for the instant KO. Markham debuts at 53.

Information on Website

A fighter can rise in the rankings despite losing if he turns in a high-level performance.

Generally for a fighter to debut in the rankings, he must beat an established opponent or win several fights in a row impressively.

A fighter will be removed from the rankings after 2 years of inactivity or after poor performance.

(NR) means the fighter has yet to establish himself in their new weight class or is fighting outside his regular weight class or is coming off a 2-year layoff.

If a fight is at a catchweight, I will consider it at whatever division it is closest to. Example: A fight at 160 lbs. will be considered a lightweight fight (155 lbs.) rather than a welterweight fight (170 lbs.) because it’s only 5 lbs. away from lightweight rather than 10 lbs. for welterweight. If the weight difference is even, I will consider it a fight in the higher weight class.